Many persons, in traveling, become constipated. This is best avoided by diet. The favorite Southern breakfast dish, “corn grits,” is an admirable laxative. Corn bread with molasses, fruit early in the day, or a glass of saline mineral water where it can be had, will generally be sufficient. If these fail, one of the ordinary compound cathartic pills can be taken before sleep, or one of the following before a meal:
| ℞. | Pulverized rhubarb, | 36 | grains. |
| Soap, | q. s. Make 12 pills. |
A bottle of mild solution of ammonia is useful for application to musquito bites and the stings of insects.
Restlessness at night in strange beds and new surroundings, is quite common. A bath before retiring, or a glass of hot (not warm) water will quiet this nervous excitement. Granules of morphia, ¼ of a grain each, should be carried, but used very sparingly, and only to relieve pain.
The first effect of a warm climate on many constitutions, is to bring on a “bilious” attack. Headache, sick stomach, slight fever and diarrhœa for a few days are the unpleasant symptoms of this first brush of acclimation. It can best be avoided by a sparing diet, by avoiding fatigue, the rays of the sun, and indulgence in fruit. The treatment is perfect rest, some citrate of magnesia or other cooling laxative, and low diet.
Those who go by sea save themselves many annoyances, but in return run the risk of sea-sickness. To avoid this, they should go aboard after a moderate meal, keep on deck whenever the sea is smooth, remain in their births when it is rough, take a little brandy, or, what is better, a glass of champagne, when the nausea comes on, and wear a silk handkerchief or broad girdle tied tightly around the stomach.
By the careful observance of such rules as I have here laid down, and such others as everyone’s good sense will suggest without prompting, those in failing health can anticipate the best results from a winter in the South. The fears which some entertain from the unpleasant feeling toward Northerners, supposed to exist, are entirely groundless. I have the best reason to know that there need not be the slightest anxiety on this score.
So, also, about the alleged dangers of travel over Southern railroads and in Southern steamboats. In point of fact more people are injured on the railroads of New York than of Florida. Moreover it is quite sure, as Thoreau quaintly says in one of his books, “We sit as many risks as we run,” and it is about as safe now-a-days on a railroad or in a steamboat as at one’s own fireside. Such fears need not give a moment’s uneasiness.
| Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: |
|---|
| Jacksonville to Tallahasse=> Jacksonville to Tallahassee {pg v} |
| Neverthless, two years afterwards=> Nevertheless, two years afterwards {pg 27} |
| the northen counties=> the northern counties {pg 43} |
| Newpapers=> Newspapers {pg 57} |
| undergrowth of palmetto give same=> undergrowth of palmetto gives same {pg 58} |
| associated with the atroicities=> associated with the atrocities {pg 59} |
| can accomodate comfortably=> can accommodate comfortably {pg 60} |
| the form of a trapezuim=> the form of a trapezium {pg 69} |
| give them a chancesto=> give them a chance to {pg 74} |
| the Kissimnee river=> the Kissimmee river {pg 77} |
| here for India river=> here for Indian river {pg 78} |
| the difficultyof access=> the difficulty of access {pg 79} |
| 6.—JACKSONVILLE TO TALLAHASEE=> 6.—JACKSONVILLE TO TALLAHASSEE {pg 81} |
| carried from St. Augutine=> carried from St. Augustine {pg 80} |
| Talahassee Sentinel=> Tallahassee Sentinel {pg 84} |
| at eighty-eighty feet=> at eighty-eighty feet {pg 87} |
| Six miles beyond Lage Griffin=> Six miles beyond Lake Griffin {pg 92} |
| the name Oklawha=> the name Oklawaha {pg 92} |
| leaves Gainsville for Micanopy=> leaves Gainesville for Micanopy {pg 95} |
| touch at Ceder Keys=> touch at Cedar Keys {pg 96} |
| such insignificant altitutde=> such insignificant altitude {pg 98} |
| of Hillsborouh river=> of Hillsborough river {pg 108} |
| near the the town=> near the town {pg 108} |
| more particuularly=> more particularly {pg 123} |
| guavas, pomegrantes=> guavas, pomegranates {pg 129} |